Montverde, Fla. (October 29, 2025) – Montverde Academy Department of Athletics is excited to announce its inaugural Hoops Mania celebration on Saturday, November 8, at The Edge Center for Sportsmanship and Wellness (The Nest), bringing together basketball fans, families, and the local community for an afternoon of excitement, entertainment, and Montverde Academy school pride.
The event, which will run from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 p.m.), will feature introductions of the national boys' and girls' basketball teams, a live band performance, and a variety of on-court competitions including a 3-point contest, slam dunk contest, skills challenge, and a mixed scrimmage featuring members of both the boys and girls national basketball teams.
Attendees will be able to meet the team members after the event during a meet-and-greet with opportunities for photo opportunities and autographs.
In addition to the basketball excitement, the event will include live entertainment, face painting for kids, and food concessions open throughout the afternoon.
"We are looking forward to celebrating the first-ever Hoops Mania as a school and community," Savannah Montes, Assistant Athletic Director of Operations and Events, who organized the event. "This event is a special opportunity for fans to connect with our teams, enjoy great entertainment, and celebrate the start of another exciting basketball season at Montverde Academy. Hoops Mania is more than just a basketball event — it's a celebration of our athletes, our school spirit, and the incredible sense of community that defines us."
Tickets are $10 per person and are available at the door or online (link here). Admission is free for Montverde Academy students, employees, and boosters.
Both the boys' and girls' national basketball teams are regarded as the standard of excellence in high school basketball across the United States. The boys' national team has won the high school national championship an unprecedented eight times (2013, 14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24), while the girls have played in the national championship game the past four years, which includes having won it the first three years.
Both teams enter their respective seasons with new head coaches.
Steve Turner will patrol the sidelines for the boys' team after a legendary 21-year career at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. where he led the Eagles to 497 wins, multiple Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) and D.C. State championships as well as multiple WCAC Coach of the Year honors. He was inducted into the Washington Metropolitan Basketball Hall-of-Fame this past September.
Anthony Jones, meanwhile, takes the reigns of the girls' national program after a legendary 17-year tenure at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando where he led the Panthers to six Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state championships (2011, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24) and two national championships (2011, 13). He has been named the Florida Dairy Farmers Girls Basketball Coach of the Year five times (2012, 13, 22, 23, 24) and the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) Coach of the Year twice (2011, 23).
The 2025-26 edition of the boys' and girls' basketball seasons are set to start in mid-November. The girls' national team will open at home on Tuesday, November 18 against Lake Highland Prep at 7:00 pm, while the boys' will get underway at the Miami Tip-off against Southeastern Prep on Friday, November 21 at 7:30 pm.
This family-friendly event celebrates the school's nationally recognized basketball programs while fostering community spirit and support for Eagle athletics.
About Montverde Academy:
Montverde Academy is a private, independent college preparatory school for grades Pre-K3 through post-graduate studies, with a boarding program serving grades 7-12 representing 70+ nationalities. Our mission is to inspire students to become knowledgeable leaders with global vision and passion for learning, in a disciplined and diverse community that nurtures character development. For more information, visit us online at Montverde.org and at MVASports.com.
